The Gospel Fleshed Out: Paul

Paul's Life and Mission
Saul/Paul (these are his Jewish and Roman names) is a towering figure in the New Testament Church.

Why? What is the nature of his influence and power?

Biographical outline:

Paul is trained as a rabbi and becomes a Pharisee under Gamaliel.
Jesus is crucified; Stephen's death inaugurates persecutions in which Paul participates.
Paul sees the risen Jesus and is commissioned "apostle to the nations."
Paul spends time in Arabia, Antioch, and Jerusalem, winning the trust of Christians.
Paul takes his first missionary journey, then returns for a church conference in Jerusalem over circumcision.
He takes his second and third missionary journeys, moving ever westward, to plant, re-visit, and visit churches.
He leads teams that continue to pastor older congregations (thus most of the letters).
He returns to Jerusalem and is arrested, imprisoned in Jerusalem and Caesarea, and brought to Rome.
Paul is imprisoned in Rome for two years and finally executed under Nero.

The broad pattern of Paul's life and character:

Paul is a passionate Jewish vehicle for "the good news of God" into the Greco-Roman social and intellectual world.
Jesus transformed Paul's purpose, life, perspective, and character.
Paul is a brilliant missionary strategist in a treacherous multicultural context.
Paul is a creative, apocalyptic, messianic rabbi.
Paul is a tenacious pastor and mentor.
Paul is on a "way of the cross" from Jerusalem to Rome.

Paul's Churches and Letters
Style and content of Paul's letters varies considerably.

Some letters' authorship (1/2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians) is disputed.

Consistent themes in Pauline letters:

Exposition and clear understanding of the gospel
of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, ascension, and coming return
as something his followers benefit from and participate in by his grace [faith].
Discernment of the gospel's deeper implications on everything.
Recognition and avoidance of false gospels.
Readiness for Christ's appearing (parousia)
to share his Kingdom-inheritance
through cultivation of holiness (Christlikeness) and spiritual fruit [hope].
'Missional' significance of the church
as God's public body/temple/building/field/bride/people/heirs.
The Spirit-gifted, harmonious shape of life in it
devoted to Christ and one another across differences [love].
Challenges to that fruitful life, and solutions.
Formation of leaders (not just clergy) after his example.

Paul's (Moral) Integrity
Why is Paul compelling? An observation/hypothesis:
Paul's life, vision (confession), mission, and legacy cohere,

synergistically and powerfully.

So grace has extended Jesus' own powerful integrity into Paul's formerly disintegrated life.